Opportunity Youth: Disenfranchised Young People

Page 40 of

Page 40 of 72

V. Reconnecting Youth by The National Institute of Justice Program Profile A school-based prevention program that targets underachieving students at risk of dropping out. The program is rated No Effects. The program had a significant negative effect on conventional peer bonding at the immediate post-intervention follow-up and significant negative effects on conventional peer bonding and peer high-risk behavior at the 6-month follow-up. Program Goals/Target Population Reconnecting Youth is a school-based prevention program that targets underachieving students at risk of dropping out. The three primary program goals are to: 1. increase school performance (reflected by decreases in truancy and increases in grade point averages [GPA]) 2. decrease drug involvement 3. improve mood management (reflected by decreases in depression, anger, and anxiety) The class concentrates on skills training within the context of adult and peer support. The class aims to help at-risk youth strengthen protective factors while reducing suicide and other related risk factors in four primary areas: school, peers, family, and self. The program targets students in grades 9 through 12 who show signs of poor school achievement and potential for dropping out of high school (low grades and absenteeism) and Page 41 of 72

This book offers a portrayal of the opportunities for social inclusion afforded to young people in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a view to building stronger youth policies in the region. The youth population must be included in development processes if progress is to be made towards more egalitarian societies, not only because of the numbers of young people vis-à-vis the rest of the population, but also because of what these numbers mean in relation to dependency rates and the needs and issues particular to this stage of life.